Domestic violence bill receives nod from legislators

BOSTON – The Senate passed a bill Tuesday that provides stiffer jail terms for those convicted of repeated acts of domestic violence.Essex County District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett heralded the vote as a major victory in the struggle to halt domestic abuse in Massachusetts. Several legislators who helped file Senate Bill No. 62, including Senate Majority Leader Fred Berry, a Peabody Democrat, described the law as a justice tool that will increase prison time by treating some of these crimes as felonies rather than misdemeanors.The bill, which also passed in the Senate during the previous legislative session, allows district attorneys the discretion to seek felony charges from domestic assault and battery when the situation merits, specifically in the case of a repeat batterer. Potentially, jail time could be doubled for those convicted.”The commonwealth needs a stronger course of action against serial abusers. Harsher penalties must be implemented, and these disgraceful actions cannot be tolerated,” said Berry. “As domestic abuse cases continue to become more violent in nature, the Legislature has to take action to ensure that these offenders are properly held liable.”Under the current law, the maximum sentence for domestic assault and battery is 2 1/2 years in the county jail. District attorneys can pursue felony charges only in cases where severe bodily harm occurs.Although most cases do not involve severe injuries on the victim, these instances are often repetitive and tend to become increasingly severe. Experts note that domestic assault-related homicides nearly doubled in Massachusetts last year, rising from 34 reported homicides in 2006 to 55 in 2007. According to Berry, the 2007 rate was the highest since 1992.